Blinken: Lot of work before hostage-truce deal * Hamas seeks end of war, mass prisoner releases * Soldier dies of fungal infection *US fears Ben Gvir trouble on Temple Mt

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Wednesday, February 7, 2024 Presented by [Tel Aviv University-Lowy International School]( Live updates [LIVE: PM, Blinken meet on Gaza war, hostage deal; Israeli official on Hamas terms: ‘No way’]( By ToI Staff Blinken: Lot of work to be done before a deal * PM and US secretary holding separate pressers tonight * Hamas offers phased hostage release, demands end to war, mass release of security prisoners [Hamas proposes 3-stage 135-day truce and hostage deal, leading to war’s end – reports]( By Agencies and ToI Staff Terror group seeking withdrawal of Israeli forces, freedom for 1,500 Palestinian prisoners including 500 serving life in exchange for hostages; demands continued UNRWA role in Gaza [Hamas, responding on hostage deal, demands an end to the war – a nonstarter for Israel]( By Jacob Magid [IDF reveals Gaza tunnel, previously used by Hamas officials, with cell for hostages]( By Emanuel Fabian Military says 12 captives were held in the tunnel at various times; army says troops killed dozens of operatives in south Gaza city over past day; ground op toll reaches 227 [At least 32 of the 136 hostages held in Gaza killed, 20 others feared dead – NYT]( By ToI Staff, Lazar Berman and Emanuel Fabian [Mourning families silently march to Knesset in remembrance of rave massacre victims]( By Charlie Summers from our sponsor [Mind the Gap Year]( How Diplomat, Academic and Entrepreneur Ronen Hoffman’s Latest Venture is the Antidote to Campus Antisemitism  Op-ed: Day 124 of the war David Horovitz [With IDF hamstrung and Hamas scenting a way out, Netanyahu dodges strategic decisions]( PM’s talk of ‘absolute victory’ is meaningless without him taking the political steps and providing the army with the ‘endgame’ vision to attain it * Safe in the south? * Press leaks [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Feb 7: Day 124 – After 4 months, Hamas makes an offer Israel can refuse]( By ToI Staff [Staff Sgt. (res.) Hanan Drori, 26, dies of fungal infection after Gaza injury]( By ToI Staff Doctors and family sourced experimental treatments for infection, but to no avail; ground op toll rises to 227 Inside story Jacob Magid [US wary Ben Gvir could inflame tensions at Temple Mount over Ramadan — officials]( Administration worried visit by far-right minister during fraught period risks dragging Jerusalem into broader conflict, is pushing for truce by start of holy month in March Top Ops Scott Kahn [Idealistic… and completely, dangerously wrong]( The religious Zionists who advocate ’voluntary transfer’ are too confident that the world – and God – will back them Haviva Ner-David [The other side of the rain]( This land of life sees so much death, with a gentle tapping on the shoulder or from a violent fist, so cruelly before one’s time [After outrage, IDF chief apologizes for drill simulating settler kidnapping attack]( By Emanuel Fabian Herzi Halevi says scenario shouldn’t have been practiced, ‘we are sorry to anyone who was hurt’; remarks come after Netanyahu demands investigation [Southern mayors demand clarity from Netanyahu on whether residents can return safely]( By ToI Staff Eshkol Regional Council’s Gadi Yarkoni says proper resources needed if population expected to come back, wants PM to be honest on reality of ongoing security situation [Israelis ‘deserve more from us’: Gantz slams coalition lawmakers’ conduct amid war]( By ToI Staff [Displaced women, children endure sexual violence inside evacuee hotels]( By Shira Silkoff [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Fuming, Saudi Arabia claims US suggested normalization could come without ceasefire]( By Jacob Magid Riyadh says it ‘communicated its firm position,’ after US defense spokesman called hostage deal and normalization ‘distinct tracks’ and said ‘positive’ talks had been held [Syria accuses Israel of striking army posts, airbase in Homs area]( By Emanuel Fabian and Agencies State media says several civilians killed and wounded in attack that damaged public, private property; IDF does not comment [Israeli wineries near Lebanon fear harvest failure as war with Hezbollah looms]( By AFP and ToI Staff Explainer Sam Sokol [Inside the government-funded group arranging IDF exemptions for yeshiva students]( Israel’s wartime budget includes millions of shekels for the Vaad HaYeshivot, despite a manpower shortage forcing the army to extend reservists’ mandatory service period [Day 124 – After 4 months, Hamas makes an offer Israel can refuse]( [listen to the podcast]( [In first bilateral visit, Argentina’s Milei says he will move embassy to Jerusalem]( By Lazar Berman Accompanied by his rabbi, pro-Israel leader tells President Herzog that his country is working to declare Hamas a terror organization [For Israeli settlers sanctioned by US, many allegations of violence, little time served]( By Jeremy Sharon All four radicals targeted by White House are accused of attacks on Palestinians, including leading the Huwara riot, harassing villagers, beating activists and throwing rocks [Winter showers boost wheat crop, but water worries continue to stalk farmers]( By Sue Surkes Downpours over last two weeks are welcomed in Israel’s northern Negev breadbasket, but drops will need to keep falling for next two months to avoid poor harvest, say cultivators [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [Bound and ‘bloodied’ girl shocks Brazilians into comprehending Hamas horrors]( By Gabriel Toueg Facing global silence on Hamas’s Oct. 7 sexual assaults, Brazil’s Jewish community joined a growing protest movement with the reenactment of Naama Levy’s real abduction [Israel sending Eden Golan, 20, to represent it at Eurovision 2024 in Sweden]( By Amy Spiro Surrounded by empty chairs, singer performs ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ as tribute to hostages, capturing win; many around the world have called to bar Israel from song contest More Headlines [Macron hosts memorial for Oct. 7, the ‘biggest antisemitic massacre of our century’]( By AFP and ToI Staff [‘Fauda’ star: After Oct. 7, script revised to be ‘tougher,’ more ‘militaristic’]( By ToI Staff [Galilee hiker stumbles upon 2,800-year-old Assyrian scarab seal]( By Gavriel Fiske [NYPD reports 31 antisemitic incidents in January, as post-October 7 surge continues]( By Luke Tress [Trump has no immunity from prosecution, US appeals court rules]( By Agencies [Newly declassified docs reveal why Canada didn’t strip Nazis of citizenship]( By Jackie Hajdenberg [Israel’s Remilk secures regulatory nod for sale of cow-free dairy in Canada]( By Sharon Wrobel [Palestinian Authority to reduce salaries as Israel blocks Gaza funds]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [US House rejects Republican-led effort to pass standalone Israel aid bill]( By KEVIN FREKING [Russia summons Israeli ambassador for criticizing Lavrov, Moscow’s ties with Hamas]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Obituary / Pearl Berg, world’s oldest Jewish person and 9th-oldest overall, dies at 114]( By Andrew Silow-Carroll [Obituary / Lawrence Langer, renowned scholar of Holocaust testimony, dies at 94]( By Andrew Silow-Carroll [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? 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